Control System-Wide Dark Mode

Android 10 introduces a UI-wide dark mode that adds a dark theme to the phone's menus and several built-in apps. To turn it on, navigate to Settings > Display > Dark Theme. Once engaged, you will notice that apps like Photos, Files, Contacts, and Clock have a black background, as do apps like Chrome, Gmail, and Google Assistant, with others in the works.

Once Dark Mode has been engaged, you can add a quick settings tile to the pull-down menu, which makes it easy to switch dark mode on and off. Just pull down from the top of the screen and tap the pencil icon in the bottom-left corner. Then drag the Dark Theme icon into the menu.

Dark Mode is also now linked to the phone's Battery Saver mode to help stretch out the lifespan of your device for a few extra minutes. If you prefer not to have the dark theme on all the time, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and tap the Turn on now button to add dark mode.

Set Gesture Controls

While gesture controls were introduced before the release of Android 10, the feature has been redesigned and moved. Control your phone's gestures via Settings > System > Gestures and select a gesture to turn on or off.

Basic gestures include simply lifting your phone or double-tapping to check the screen. You can also swipe your finger across the sensor on the back of the phone to check notifications or shake the device to open the camera.

By default, Android 10 eliminates the traditional button navigation, opting for a more gesture-focused method like Apple introduced with iPhone X: swipe from the bottom to go home; swipe up and hold, then release to view the app switcher; and go back by swiping to the left or right.

Since some apps feature left and right swiping, it could get in the way of the new back gesture. Control the sensitivity of the back gesture by tapping the gear next to Gesture navigation.

Share Wi-Fi Easily

Android 10 makes it easy to join Wi-Fi networks and share Wi-Fi passwords. To give someone your password, head to the Wi-Fi menu and tap the gear next to the network. Tap Share and the phone will provide a QR code that can be scanned by another phone. The password will also be listed on the page in plain text.

To add a network, scroll down to Add network in the Wi-Fi menu and select the QR code add button. You can now scan the code from someone else's device.

Smart Reply and Suggested Actions

Android 10 expands Google's Smart Reply feature to cover any messaging app on your phone. Now Facebook Messenger, Signal, WhatsApp, and a number of other services can offer quick responses and predict what you're trying to say.

Suggested Actions, meanwhile, will suggest relevant apps to use depending on your current activities. This means you will receive a prompt to open Google Maps if someone sends you an address, or Contacts if it's a phone number.

Over time, your phone will determine the apps and services it suggests based directly on the people, apps, and content you interact with. If that ever feels too invasive, clear all the data out from Settings > Privacy > Device Personalization Services > Clear data.

Share Easier From the New Share Pane

If you were tired of Android's clunky share menu, it has been completely redesigned to be faster and simpler in Android 10. The previous version of this feature lumped everything into one big mess of contacts and apps. The new version breaks things up into clear sections, including frequent contacts, suggested apps based on use, and an alphabetical list of app destinations. Some apps also feature specific commands inside the share pane. Photos, for example, allows link and album sharing.

Manage Privacy and Location Permissions

Under Settings > Privacy you'll find a new menu centralizing all privacy and permissions settings in one place. The Permissions Manager lets you control exactly what apps have access to specific personal data like contacts, camera, call logs, location, microphone, and more.

If you manage location permissions, for instance, you'll see a list of the apps with always-on location access, location access only when using the app, and denied access. Tap into any app to toggle permissions.

The Privacy menu also allows you to manage the location history and the activity controls of your entire Google account.

Opt Out of Ad Targeting

Android 10 now allows you to opt out of ad targeting, which means Google won't use your data to personalize the ads you see on your device and through Google apps and services. This doesn’t mean you will stop seeing ads, but it will ensure there are no creepy and invasive advertising profiles chasing you around the internet.

Stay Focused on Your Phone

With Android 10, Google adds new features to its Digital Wellbeing app, which aims to help you keep tabs on your screen time. That includes Focus Mode, which lets you block distracting apps when you need to focus.

Instead of going back into the Settings screen every time you need to adjust Focus Mode, use the shortcut tile inside the notification shade.

Parents Can Stay in Control

Google's Family Link app, which allows parents to dynamically adjust how much access their kids have to their Android device, debuted in 2017. But with Android 10, it is accessible in your device's settings menu under Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.

Get the Best Android 10 Features on Older Phones

Want the new Android 10 but don't want to wait for your phone to update? These apps and setting tweaks can replicate some of Android's best new features.

Focus Mode (Beta)

Google will also be adding a new feature to its Digital Wellbeing app that allows you to shut down distracting apps. When activated, Focus Mode will make it so that social media and mobile games can't be used until you turn it off. Right now this feature is only available in the Android 10 beta, but when rolled out publicly it'll be accessible in Settings > Digital Wellbeing to pause distracting apps temporarily simply by checking a box.

Coming Soon: Live Captions

Another major feature coming to Android 10 is Live Captions, which are a huge step for accessibility. The feature will add captions to videos, songs, podcasts, and even video calls in real time, with or without an internet connection. Basically, if you don't have the sound on but want to watch a YouTube video, Live Captions will allow you to read what is being said. Live Captions won't be available until sometime later this year, and it may take even longer to get it on non-Pixel devices.

Rob was previously an editor at SD Times covering software, managing social media, and writing narrative-driven features on any offbeat story or trend he could find. He graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications … See Full Bio